Temporary bulkhead for shipping container

ABSTRACT

A temporary bulkhead locking member comprising a unitary length of rigid material that is formed into a predetermined profile extending longitudinally along the length thereof. The profile provides first and second channels into which the leading edges of first and second bulkhead doors may removably engage with the locking member located between the door leading edges. The bulkhead doors are oriented to form an obtuse angle with each other with the angle apex pointing inward of the container when in the engaged position with the locking member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to temporary bulkheads for shipping containers.

Shipping containers are well known and are typically in the form of a large rectangular box made of strong materials such as, for example, corrugated steel, aluminum, and fiber-reinforced polymers. Access to the container may be provided by double doors which are hinged to one open end of the container. These types of shipping containers are used to ship all types of durable goods by all modes of transportation including truck, air, rail and ship. The containers are mostly identical in form so that they are easily stackable.

Solid form goods are easily loaded into and out of the shipping container through the double door access. Goods in non-solid form such as free flowing bulk grains are also shipped in these containers but the loading and unloading process is a bit more difficult. As the flowable product is deposited into the container, something must be placed at the point of entry to prevent the material from flowing outside the container, particularly if the container is to be filled to capacity.

Temporary bulkheads for shipping containers have been proposed and may be seen in AU2007201346A1, for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment, the present invention provides a temporary bulkhead locking member comprising a unitary length of rigid material that is formed into a predetermined profile extending longitudinally along the length thereof. The profile provides first and second channels into which the leading edges of first and second bulkhead doors may removably engage with the locking member located between the door leading edges. The bulkhead doors are oriented to form an obtuse angle with each other with the angle apex pointing inward of the container when in the engaged position with the locking member. The temporary bulkhead doors are shorter than the full height of the shipping container which leaves an opening between the top of the bulkhead doors and the top of the shipping container. As the bulk product is filled into the container through this opening, the bulk flowable product builds up and presses against the bulkhead doors. The temporary bulkhead locking member prevents the bulkhead doors from moving in a direction toward the outside of the container. The angular relationship of the bulkhead doors provides further resistance and strength such that the temporary bulkhead will not yield to the pressure exerted there against by the bulk flowable product.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a temporary bulkhead system including a pair of temporary bulkhead doors and a locking member comprising a unitary length of rigid material that is formed into a predetermined profile extending longitudinally along the length thereof.

In yet a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method of forming a temporary bulkhead for a shipping container comprising the steps of providing and attaching a pair of temporary bulkhead doors to the opening of a shipping container and providing a locking member comprising a unitary length of rigid material that is formed into a predetermined profile extending longitudinally along the length thereof, and removably engaging the facing leading edges of the first and second bulkhead doors into first and second channels of the locking member, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing it attached to temporary bulkhead doors in the intended manner;

FIG. 1B is a top plan view of FIG. 1A showing the temporary bulkhead attached to the open end of a shipping container;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a back elevation view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 8 is another top plan view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment thereof;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a back elevation view thereof;

FIG. 14 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a right side elevation view thereof; and

FIG. 16 is another top plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawing, as seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B an embodiment of the invention comprising a temporary bulkhead locking member 10 is provided comprising a unitary length of rigid material (e.g., steel, aluminum, plastic, etc.) that is formed into a predetermined profile (e.g., by bending or extruding) extending longitudinally along the length thereof. The profile provides first and second channels 12 and 14 into which the leading edges 16 a, 18 a of first and second bulkhead doors 16, 18 may removably engage with the locking member 10 located between the door leading edges 16 a, 18 a, respectively. The outer side edges 16 b and 18 b of bulkhead doors 16, 18 are removably inserted into channels Ca′ and Cb′ of container side walls Ca and Cb, respectively. The doors 16 and 18 are oriented to form an obtuse angle “A” (see FIG. 1B) with each other with the angle apex pointing to the inside “I” of the container “C” when in the engaged position with the locking member 10.

The temporary bulkhead doors 16, 18 are shorter than the full height of the shipping container C which leaves a space “S” between the top of the bulkhead doors and the top wall C1 of the shipping container (see FIG. 1A). As the bulk flowable product (not shown) is filled into the container through this space “S”, the bulk flowable product builds up and presses against the bulkhead doors 16, 18 in the direction of arrow “A”. The temporary bulkhead locking member 10 prevents the bulkhead doors 16, 18 from moving in a direction toward the outside “0” of the container. The angular relationship of the bulkhead doors 16, 18 provides further resistance and strength such that the temporary bulkhead doors will not yield to the pressure exerted there against by the bulk flowable product.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-8, locking member 10 includes a profile having contiguous planar wall segments 10 a-h which are angled with respect to each other and include the following preferred dimensions (see FIGS. 2 and 4):

Wall 10 a—width W₁ about ¾th inch

Wall 10 b—width W₂ about 1¾th inches

Wall 10 c—width W₃ about 1/16^(th) inch

Wall 10 d—width W₄ about ½ inch

Wall 10 e—width W₅ about 9/16^(th) inch

Wall 10 f—width W₆ about ⅞^(th) inch

Wall 10 g—width W₇ about 1 7/16^(th) inch

Wall 10 h—width W₈ about 15/16^(th) inch

Angle “A” about 90°

Angle “B” about 160°

Angle “C” about 75°

Angle “D” about 90°

Angle “E” about 90°

Angle “F” about 56°

Angle “G” about 123°

As seen in FIG. 8, the profile provides three points of engagement P₁, P₂ and P₃ on door 16 and fourth and fifth points of engagement P₃ and P₄ on door 18. P₃ which has a lead line to the open bracket “}” may extend along part of or the entire width of one or both of wall segments 10 d and 10 e while P₄ which has a lead line to the open bracket “}” may extend along part of or the entire width of one or both of wall segments 10 d and 10 e and P₅ may extend along part of or the entire width of wall segment 10 h. Points P₁ and P₂ engage door 16. In this manner, locking member 10 secures doors 16 and 18 set at an angle and provide a very high amount of resistance to buckling by any force applied in the direction of arrow “A” by, for example, a load of flowable product deposited into container “C”.

In yet a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-16, the locking member 100 has a symmetrical profile with contiguous planar wall segments 100 a-i which form first and second channels 120 and 140 which face in opposing directions to removably receive door side edges 16 a and 18 a, respectively.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-16, locking member 100 includes a profile having contiguous planar wall segments 100 a-i which are angled with respect to each other and include the following preferred dimensions (see FIGS. 10 and 12):

Wall 100 a—width W9 about 1 1/16th inch

Wall 100 b—width W10 about ½ inches

Wall 100 c—width W11 about ½ inch

Wall 100 d—width W₁₂ about 1¾ inch

Wall 100 e—width W₁₃ about 1 5/16^(th) inch

Angle “H” about 90°

Angle “I” about 90°

Angle “J” about 70°

Angle “K” about 70°

Angle “L” about 90°

Angle “M” about 90°

Angle “N” about 110°

Angle “0” about 110°

Angle “P” about 140°

As seen in FIG. 16, the profile provides three points of engagement P₆, P₇ and P₈ on each door 16, 18. In this manner, locking member 100 secures doors 16 and 18 set at an angle and provide a very high amount of resistance to buckling by any force applied in the direction of arrow “A” by, for example, a load of flowable product deposited into container

While this method and apparatus has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A locking member for a temporary bulkhead for a shipping container, the temporary bulkhead including first and second doors each have an outer and inner side edge, said locking member comprising: a) a unitary length of rigid material having a plurality of contiguous planar wall segments with the first, second and third wall segments angled with respect to each other to form a first channel, and fourth, fifth and sixth wall segments angled with respect to each other to form a second channel, said first and second channels having opening facing in opposite directions and configured to removable receive said inner side edge of said first and second doors, respectively, with said locking member extending longitudinally between said inner side edges of said first and second doors. 